The University of Melbourne is among the world's highest-ranked Universities, both in general and for the course/major I'm considering studying which is Computing and Software Systems. I chose Australia because the climate is very similar to where I live in Islamabad, Pakistan and therefore I would not need to adjust much as opposed to a place like Canada. Once I had decided on Australia, Melbourne University was the natural first choice as it is Australia's number 1 university. I chose to study Computing and Software systems because of their immense relevancy in a wide variety of industries as well as academic research.
Course Curriculum :
The Course Curriculum and Academics are excellent. The syllabus is very relevant and gets our foot into the door of our chosen field. However, there is some level of individual effort required to learn what is currently Industry standard as the University does standardize its course a bit. However, all tools used and taught like Matlab, etc. are taught using up-to-date versions.
Exams :
My scores are: IELTS - 8.5; Reading- 9, Listening - 9, Speaking - 8, Writing- 8; SAT - 1530; University Requirements are: IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6; TOEFL 79; Writing - 21, Speaking - 18, Reading - 13, and Listening - 13
Placement :
There are definitely opportunities, the university has a dedicated career advisory office that specializes in this exact thing. Students can make appointments with them and talk with them in great detail about what it is that they want to do after their studies. The University provides excellent services in that regard. The University of Melbourne is also ranked #7 in Graduate employability worldwide so getting a job post-study should not be very difficult as long as one is proactive in the job application and applies through the right channels (makes connections, actively seeks recruiters, etc).
Internship :
I have not yet opted for any internship in the co-op. I've been busy getting settled into University life in a different country.
Events :
I haven't had a chance to explore campus life because of COVID so I've mostly been attending zoom and online events that the university has organized and they've done a pretty good job of making those fun and entertaining for everyone that participates. I have not yet had a chance to explore the sports facilities however the Library is world-class, providing any material you might ever need.
Fees :
The yearly tuition fee for my program is approximately 45000 AUD and the total tuition fee for a standard 3-year degree is 170000 AUD.
Scholarship :
I was fortunate enough to receive the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship which offers 100% fee remission for the entire 3-year course. There was no application process, all applicants who had A levels score of 3A* or higher were automatically considered for it.
Faculty :
The faculty and staff are excellent and have a great and thorough understanding of the topic. They can also teach well and incorporate various teaching methods to ensure that everyone understands the lecture. Furthermore, their offices are open for individual queries. The faculty-to-student ratio at UniMelb is 1:11.
Hostel :
I actually went to Australia with my friend who is enrolled at Melbourne University. We had planned to live together so university accommodation wasn't really an option. We had a really positive experience with UniLodge and it offered decent boarding for a very low cost. We plan to lease out our own apartment soon though. So there are definitely more viable options than living in university accommodation. It does require you to be a bit more responsible But the overall experience and money saved are worth it.
